Urgency.
It is a word the Humboldt Broncos have been talking about, head coach Ryan Smith said. Last week, the team definitely demonstrated some urgency as it defeated the Yorkton Terriers in a pair of games. The team is focused on earning a playoff spot and Smith said every game is important.
“We’ve got to kind of get into playoff mode right now,” Smith said.
The victories, including an overtime win at home, snapped a four-game losing streak and propelled the Broncos upwards in the standings. As of Jan. 11, the team was 15-19-3-0. The Broncos were tied with La Ronge for ninth place in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). The top 10 teams make the postseason.
The Broncos, who were 2-1 last week, displayed some playoff mentality over the weekend by coming back in games and pulling out wins. Smith was most pleased with his squad’s play on Jan. 9 when it came from being down 2-1 to win 5-3.
“We played with confidence,” Smith said. “We played with an urgency to win and kind of took the game over.”
Over the weekend, the Broncos showed improved offensive prowess as they posted nine goals in two games. Smith said that many things likely factored in. The Broncos have found ways to score in the first period and to get a lead. Smith said he thinks both helped the team’s confidence. As well, the Broncos have been effective on the power play and have been going to the net a bit more and getting in front of goalies, the head coach stated.
“Things are coming around slowly, but surely,” Smith said.
The Canadian Junior Hockey League trade deadline came and went on Jan. 10. The Broncos picked up a goaltender and traded away a forward for future considerations. The team opted not to make any other deals.
“Trades must make sense for us to do it. It didn’t so we stood pat,” Smith said. “We are comfortable with this group.”
Trade Deadline
With impressive 17-year-old rookie goaltender Brock Hamm called up to the Western Hockey League’s Saskatoon Blades early last week, the Broncos were looking for another netminder. They added 18-year-old Ryan Larochelle from the Prairie Junior Hockey League’s West Central Rage. He was in training camp with the Broncos but sustained a hand injury.
“He works hard. He battles hard,” Smith said. “He is a good teammate … We are happy with him and we are going to give him a chance in net.”
Listed at 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds on eliteprospects.com, Larochelle is from Edmonton. He was 3-7 with a 5.07 goals against average while playing Junior B in Kerrobert.
On Jan. 10, Hamm made 28 saves in a 6-4 victory over the Kootenay Ice in his debut for the Blades.
The day before the deadline of Jan. 10, the Broncos traded Connor Scott to the Elliot Lake Wildcats of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League. The 19-year-old forward from Parry Sound, Ont., had six goals, an assist, and 32 penalty minutes in 31 games with Humboldt.
Smith said that Scott has been a good soldier and thanked him for his contributions. The Broncos were looking to give some ice time to younger players and Smith said there was interest in Scott from teams, especially closer to his home.
Last Week
Matthew Kenney scored a spectacular goal less than a minute and a half into overtime on Jan. 11 to give the Broncos a 4-3 home victory over Yorkton. He made a nifty move to make converted forward Dylan Johnson look a bit foolish and then put the puck top shelf over Dawson McAuley’s shoulder.
“He has some deceptive moves that he displayed (Sunday),” said Smith, who called it a “highlight reel goal.”
Humboldt led 2-0 and 3-2 at the intermissions, but the Terriers were able to force the extra session.
Austin Duzan scored his fifth and sixth goals of the season for Humboldt, while Gage Joel also scored in regulation. Jack Romanuik stopped 20 of the 23 shots he faced. Forward Logan Schatz and defenceman Colton Laroque each had two assists. The line of Duzan, Schatz, and Stuart Symenuk impressed Smith.
“They showed up to play last night,” the head coach said. “They were our top line. They played well on Friday night too.”
Zach Zadorozniak, Dallas Rossiter, and Adam Santoro had Yorkton’s goals. McAuley made 34 saves for the Terriers.
Two nights earlier the Broncos and Terriers clashed in Yorkton with Humboldt winning 5-3. Yorkton led 2-1 after the first period. Smith said the first period was not the team’s best and it was discussed at the intermission. The Broncos exploded for three goals in the second period to seize the momentum.
“We tilted the ice in the second period,” said Smith, whose team outshot the Terriers 23-5 in the period.
Scoring for Humboldt were Joel, Trevor Posch, Jon Brumwell, Stuart Symenuk, and Kenney, who had a goal and two assists. Ashton McLeod also had two helpers. The Broncos scored twice on the power play. Romanuik recorded 23 saves.
Yorkton captain Kailum Gervais had two goals for his team. Riley Hunt scored once. Dawson McAuley made 35 saves.
On Jan. 6, Humboldt fell 5-3 to the Kindersley Klippers at the Elgar Petersen Arena (EPA). The game was knotted up at 3-3 after the second period, but Kindersley was able to score twice in the final session.
“Our effort was definitely there,” Smith said.
The Broncos were two for three on the power play. Gray Marr and Jarrett Fontaine both lit the lamp with the advantage, while Brumwell had the team’s other goal. Romanuik had 22 saves. Austin Swystun was called up from the Saskatoon Blazers midget AAA team to serve as Romanuik’s backup. He is the younger brother of Broncos defenceman Connor Swystun.
Kindersley’s Cody Young netted a hat trick for the Klippers before Landon Gross and Braden Oleksyn, on a power play, rounded out the scoring. Nathan Hargrave made 23 saves.
Home Game Friday
The Broncos host the league-leading Melfort Mustangs on Jan. 16 at the EPA. The teams head to Melfort on Jan. 17 and battle again.
Earlier this week the Humboldt squad was to play in Battlefords. On Jan. 21, the North Stars visit the EPA.
Catching Up With
Joey Eaton (2002-2005) lives in southeastern Saskatchewan with his wife April, daughter Dannie, and son Griffin. He grew up in Humboldt and played three seasons for the Broncos.
“The best part of playing junior hockey in my hometown was all the kids who love the Broncos just like I did,” Eaton wrote in an Internet interview.
